August 5-9, 2017

British Columbia's Gulf Islands have been described as a 'pocket of paradise', and we are not going to disagree! Each island in the beautiful southern Gulf Islands offers a distinctive character all its own. Cruising amongst the islands is the best possible way to visit, as it gives us the chance to explore hidden anchorages and get close to the wildlife that calls this little paradise home. Orcas, humpback whales, sea lions, otters, porpoises and eagles are frequently spotted while sailing the quiet waters of the archipelago.

We'll have plenty of opportunities to hop off the boat for shore leave in the many charming villages that dot the islands. There are some fantastic island trail networks that we can explore on short hikes, and in a few of our stops guests have the option of renting kayaks for a sunset paddle.

Registration

August 5-9, 2017

SOLD OUT!

Maximum of 4 spots available. This cruise is open to ages 19 and up. We offer a 20% discount for ages 19-25. Please contact us for this pricing.

5% GST is added at checkout for Canadian customers.

Included in Registration

5 days of sailing amongst the scenic southern Gulf Islands, with your experienced local skipper showing you the sights while keeping you safe on the water.

4 nights accommodation with food and drink from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day, with the exception of the last dinner which we'll enjoy on shore. You are responsible for your own costs on shore.

Check this section of our FAQs for what else is included and not included.

2017 Trip Itinerary: August 5-9

*Note that this is a sample itinerary, not set in stone as conditions will dictate where we are able to sail during the trip. Rest assured that no matter which way the wind blows, we will have an equally fantastic time exploring the Gulf Islands!

Montague Harbour, Galiano Island

Day 1: West Vancouver to Montague Harbour, Galiano Island

We sail across the Salish Sea (aka the Georgia Straight) to Active Pass, one of only three narrow passages to cut through into the protected waters of the southern Gulf Islands. The trip across often offers some large marine mammal spotting! We arrive in Montague Harbour, one of BC's popular provincial marine parks and anchor for the evening. There are some great hiking trails in the park, including a beautiful short walk around the peninsula to see a midden beach- evidence of thousands of years of habitation by the Coast Salish people.

Day 2: Montague Harbour to Pender Island via Saturna Island

Leaving Galiano Island behind, we sail farther south for a picnic lunch stop in serene Winter Harbour on Saturna Island. After stretching our legs and exploring the shoreline, we hop across Plumper Sound to spend the night at the luxurious Port Browning marina-resort (complete with showers and a swimming pool!) on Pender Island.

Day 3: Pender Island to Sidney Spit

Anchored off Sidney Spit

From Pender Island we venture still further south, playing chicken with the Canada-US border area where we have clear views of Mount Baker and the Olympic Mountain range towering on the horizon. Cruising amongst some of the smaller islands brings us to spectacular Sidney Spit, part of the Gulf Islands National Park. This quiet island loses part of itself at high tide each day, offering a captivating place for low tide explorations and a great walking trail around the rest of the island. The sandy beach right next to prime swimming waters is a great place to laze away a hot summer afternoon.

Sailing through Trincomali Channel

Day 4: Sidney Spit to Silva Bay, Gabriola Island

We weave our way through the islands on a longer sail northbound to Gabriola Island. The scenery is beautiful and the sailing conditions in Trincomali Channel are often fantastic, rousing the crew to action stations as we zig zag our way past Salt Spring Island, Porlier Pass and all the way to the tip of Valdez Island. Cutting through Gabriola Passage brings us to Silva Bay, one of the friendliest marinas complete with a great pub overlooking the sheltered bay. A local kayaking company offers sunset tours around the near by Flat Top Islands- a highly recommended way to explore the area.

Day 5: Gabriola Island to Nanaimo

On our final day we sail up the coast of Gabriola Island, a popular feeding ground for transient orcas thanks to the large seal population. We'll arrive in Nanaimo in the early afternoon, giving guests plenty of time to catch an afternoon ferry back to Vancouver or carry on their BC adventures with an on shore exploration of Vancouver Island.

What to Bring & What to Expect?

To get a sense of what our curated Cruising Adventures are like, please read our main page here.

Please check the required and recommended items listed for live-aboard sailing, as well as reviewing the section on what to expect life to be like on board. Find both on our FAQ page here.

Location

Our Gulf Islands Cruise starts at our home port in West Vancouver, accessible by car, public transit and bicycle. We finish the cruise in Nanaimo Harbour on Vancouver Island where there is easy taxi or public transit service to the Departure Bay ferry terminal to take you back to West Vancouver.

+1 604-283-5343

ahoy@seatoskysailing.com

WEST VANCOUVER, BC, CANADA

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And now for something completely different... a week of private lessons on a brand new #jeanneau out of Sooke! Our #competentcrew students from last year are all grown up with their first boat 😊⛵️⚓️😎
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